Youth skills

As A coalition of leading independent and third sector providers of children’s services we are delighted to see the Scottish Government investing an additional £4.5 million to increase young people’s skills and training opportunities in its response to the commission report led by Sir Ian Wood on getting young people into training and employment.

We particularly welcome that this investment includes plans to assist young people with additional support needs (ASN) to gain better access to training and employment programmes, and commitment to improving the lives and prospects of care leavers.

By the time they are 26 young people with ASN are nearly four times more likely to be unemployed than their wider peer group, with care leavers facing among the most dire outcomes, not only languishing at the bottom of employment leagues, but also those for health, education and crime. They are more likely to die prematurely, be unemployed, be addicted to drugs or alcohol and be imprisoned.

Figures from Skills Development Scotland show that only 0.32 per cent of those in a modern apprenticeship have a declared disability, down from 0.48 per cent in 2010/11. Although reliant on self-declaration, this is still woefully low and we are pleased to see commitment from the Scottish Government to tackle these inequalities.

We welcome the proposals for foundation apprenticeship pilot programmes and greater collaboration between schools, colleges and local authorities. This will provide vulnerable groups, many of whom boast excellent skills, with the “work ready” skills needed to be able to enter into sustainable employment.

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition:

Tom McGhee

Spark of Genius

Duncan Dunlop

Who Cares? Scotland

Stuart Jacob

Falkland House School

Sophie Pilgrim

Kindred

Sophie Dow

Mindroom

Niall Kelly

Young Foundations